The select committee's report said: "In the future, it may not be possible for the NHS to pay for every possible medical treatment."

The report suggests charging patients who go to A&E for non-emergency care and those who miss GP appointments.

It said the government should undertake a full scale review in order to find out the cost and benefits of alternatives systems - such as abolishing all of the existing health charges, or abolishing the prescription charge.

The MPs renewed calls for a reassessment of the medical exemption list - where people with certain conditions do not have to pay for prescriptions, whatever their income.

The list dates from 1968 - and is outdated, the committee said.

'The system must change'

The MPs said that, in addition to scrapping car park charges for those who need to go to hospital daily for care, there should also be "season tickets" for frequent visitors.